In surprising move, Brett Myers named Astros closer (w/video)

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KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Brett Myers was named Astros closer on Tuesday, not only creating a major jolt in bullpen roles for the upcoming season but also providing a new dynamic for the race for rotation spots.

It was an unexpected move, to observers and was equally unexpected at first to Myers, who was presented with the idea to stew over for the last three weeks. He had to sign off on the move from the rotation where he was an asset mostly for his ability to chew up innings, and ultimately, after testing out the arm in the short bursts, he gave it the OK.

Myers’ move to replace the traded Mark Melancon puts Brandon Lyon in a setup role for the final year of his three-year deal and first since ending his season in June for biceps surgery. It also pushes a stable of young relievers into the competition for setup jobs and gives Livan Hernandez a clear shot at a rotation that had one fewer hole before and Jordan Lyles, Kyle Weiland, Zach Duke and Lucas Harrell better shots.

“We have some candidates and depth with the rotation,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said. “Having an experienced guy who’s done it before takes some pressure off of Brandon Lyon and (less experienced) guys like David Carpenter and Wilton Lopez.”

Myers indeed has closed before and quite effectively, notching a 2.87 ERA in 48 games as a reliever with 21 saves for the 2007 Phillies. Notably, his strikeout rate was higher than ever with 64 in his 53 1/3 innings, and Mills expects that he will throw harder as a reliever like he did in that 2007 season after his fastball velocity hit a career-low last year.

He had regressed as a starter last year, following his stellar 2010 (14-8, 3.14 ERA) with a 7-14 season and a 4.46 ERA thanks in part to a jump from 18 to 31 home runs allowed in similar innings counts.

What worried him more than his first-inning struggles, which he thinks he can overcome in a one-inning job, was his body.

“I’ve had hip surgery since I was closer so just how that would bounce back and how that would feel,” said Myers. “I wanted to get a couple of days of spring training, a couple times off the mound, see how it felt the next day.”

Myers is set to earn $11 million this year, the final guaranteed year of a contract extension signed in August 2010. He had an $10 million club option (with a $3 million buyout) that could vest contingent on the number of starts, but that has since been reworked so that he can reach it in a healthy year as a reliever.

Luhnow came to Mills this offseason about the idea, and the team went with it even though they know that they’re sacrificing a lot of innings from the durable righthander. Ability to pitch deep into games and seasons is part of the reason the Astros brought in Hernandez on a minor league non-roster invitation.

Mills stopped short of guaranteeing Hernandez a spot in the opening day rotation, but the Grapefruit League opening day starter is looking good.

“Somebody else probably has to overtake him,” Mills said. “Moving forward you just have to see how he’s throwing the ball and how he’s preparing himself and how he’s getting ready.

Wandy Rodriguez and Bud Norris are still looking at top-of-the-rotation jobs. J.A. Happ, Jordan Lyles and also very much figure in the decision making, as do Weiland, Sosa, Harrell and Duke, who will look to prove their worth with Grapefruit League games starting Saturday.

As for Myers, he’ll pitch an inning at a time in the Grapefruit League to prepare for the closer’s role and get some back-to-back days to simulate the experience that could come during the season.